Folding seat



2 N M m Am TS THU mm Eu HP l No. 577,955. Patented-Mar. Z, 1897.

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J. HEARTTAGEN.

FOLDING SEAT.

No. 577,955. I P5555555 M55. 2, 1397 "pawl/11111111171 $1,:

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UNITED STATES PATENT ()EFICE.

JOHN I-IEARTTAGEN, OF ALLENTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

FOLDING SEAT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,955, dated March 2, 1897.

Application filed July 20, 1896- Serial No. 599,764. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN HEARTTAGEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county of Lehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Seats; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to folding seats of that class having an outer casing or wall within which the seat and legs are adapted to be folded when not in use and having a means for holding the seat and legs in adjustment when in use.

The objects of my invention are to provide a seat of this class that will be light and easy of adjustment, that can be folded into small compass when not in use, and carried as a hand-satchel, that is adapted to be carried by tourists upon excursions, and to be used generally where a .light portable seat is desired.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts shown in the accompanying drawings, and described in the following specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved folding seat, showing it telescoped or folded together. Fig. 2 is a like view with the top removed and showing the upper and lower extensions. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section of the same on the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is atop or plan view of the upper arm mechanism, showing their relative position when withdrawn from the Fig. 5 is a like view showing the arms and fasteners or looking devices extended. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view from below on the dotted line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a cross-section on the dotted line 7 7 of Fig. 3, showing the ways or guides. Fig. 8 is an under side view on the dotted line 8 8 of Fig. 3, showing the method of fastening the seat to the arms. Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views before and after the operation of extending and fastening the arms.

A is the casin g, which may bemade of light sheet metal or fiber,and is provided with circular grooves and t near itsupper and lower ends. A cover B, having its top suitably upholstered or padded, is loosely hinged near the top of the casing A and is adapted to be used as a childs seat. A suitable handle or shoulder-strap O is attached to the side of the casing, and at the lower end are hinged doors D, which are provided witha suitable fastening w, by means of which they are held closed when the seat is not in use. Vertical grooves or guides '22 extend between the circular grooves tand t lengthwise the casing and on opposite sides thereof. Within the casing are operating devices whereby the seat-supporting arms E and the legs F are operated. The seat-supporting arms E are pivoted to a sliding disk G, having notches 1;, into which the grooves 12 in the casing fit. The disk G has the ears 8, between which the arms E are placed and secured by means of the pivots 1". Upon the disk Grests anotched plate H and beneath the disk is a circular plate I, having segmental slots 19, which receive the pins 0 of the sliding locking-bars J.

The locking-bars J are held in place and supported by a plain disk K, which is provided with notches v and guides n of the same thickness as the bars J, which serve to hold said bars in the proper position and to cause them to move in a straight line when the plate I is rotated by reason of the segmental slots 19 engaging the pins 0, attached to said bars. A key L, having a square shank, passes through H, G, and I and is pivotally attached to K, while G has a large opening which does not engage the shank. H and I, however, are provided with square openings the size of the shank and will therefore turn with the key. The disk G and plate I are prevented from turning by reason of the notches o engaging with the groove '0 in the casing.

The arms E have a projecting portion m, which rests upon the plate H, as shown in Figs. 3, 5, and 10, when the arms are spread. They are also provided with shoulders Z, which are adapted to rest upon the edge of the casing A and serve to support the arms when a weight is placed upon them.

The seat M is formed from leather, canvas, or other suitable material and has'sewed or otherwise suitably attached to the under side thereof the metal fasteners N, having ears at the outer ends and slotsj at the inner ends. The upper ends of the arms E are pivoted between the ears 7c, and straps 13 pass through the slots j. These straps pass between the fasteners N to reinforce the seat, and their length is adjusted by means of the buckles h. The lower end of the casing is provided with a sliding disk G, also provided with notches to fit the grooves o in the casing. It is also provided with ears .9, between which the legs F are pivoted. To the under side are fastened guides 01., similar to the guides 71 on the plain disk K, which hold the locking-bars J, having pins 0, in their proper positions. Beneath the disk G is a notched plate II, similar to the plate H, but provided with segmental notches like those in the circular plate I. This plate II is rotated by means of a small bar or key g, attached thereto. The legs F have a projecting portion m, which engages the plate II when the legs are extended. They also are provided with notched shoulders f, the edge of the casing being adapted to enter the notch. A coil-spring O has its bearing against the plate K and the disk G.

In Fig. 1 my improved seat is in position to be carried from place to place and, as will be seen, is very compact. When it is desired to use it, the cover B is removed and the doors D are opened, when the coil-spring 0 will force the top and bottom operating mechanism to the ends of the casing. The arms E are thrown outwardly, and the key L is turned, which causes the plates II and I to rotate, the plate I-I locking the arms in that position and the plate I causing the lockingbars J to slide outwardly and enter the groove 25 by reason of the segmental slots 1) engaging with the pins 0 on the locking-bars. It will be seen that the seat will be firmly fixed in this position until the key is again turned and the plates II and I again rotated. The operation of securing the legs F is the same, except that but one plate H is rotated in order to secure the legs F and lock the bars J into the groove t. The grooves 42 in the easing are to prevent the operating mechanism from turning within the casing.

IVhen it is desirable to form a low seat, as for a child, the cover B is not removed, it only beingnecessary to open the doors D,when the spring forces the legs F to the end of the casing, when they are adjusted as above described. For this purpose the top of the cover may be suitably upholstered. To close the seat, the key L is turned until the notches in the plate H are opposite the projectionsm on the arms E, which also causes the lockingbars J to slide out of the groove 2.. The arms are folded and pressed down into the casing and the cover B placed in position. The same operation is repeated with the feet F, when the seat will again appear as in Fig. 1.

It will be seen that my folding seat, when constructed of suitable materials, will be both light. and strong, thereby making it easy for ladies or children to carry from place to place.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a folding seat of the class described, the combination of the casing A, having the grooves 15, t, and v, and provided with a cover B, and hinged doors D, with the seatsupporting mechanism, consisting of the disk K, having guides at; locking-bars J, having pins 0; a circular plate-I, having segmental slots 19; a disk G, having ears 3, and notches t; the key L, having a square shank; the arms E, pivoted between the ears .9, and having projecting portions m, and shoulders Z; the plate II; the metal fasteners N, attached to the seat M, and having ears 70, between which the upper ends of the arms E, are fastened, and the slots j; the strap 7 having the buckle 7i, and the seat M, all substantially as shown and described.

2. In a folding seat of the class described, the combination of the casing A, having grooves t, t, and v, and the seat-supporting mechanism, with the leg-operating mechanism, consisting of the disk G, having guides at, and ears 3; the notched plate II, having the key g; the sliding locking-bars J, having pins 0, and the legs F, having the projections m, and notched shoulders f, substantially as shown and described.

3. In a portable seat, the combination of the casing A, having grooves '0, t, and t; with the locking-bars J, having pins 0, the plain disk K, having guides at, the circular plate I, having segmental slots 13, the sliding disk G, having notches 'u, and ears 3, the notched plate H, the seat-supportin g arms E, which support the seat M; the key L, operating the disks K, and G, the plates H, and I, and the bars J; the spring 0; the sliding disk G, having guides at, and ears 5, to which are secured the legs F, the looking-bars J, the notched plate I'I, having segmental slots, the key g, and the legs F, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a folding seat, having an outer casing, the leg and seat operating mechanism comprising the circular plate I, the plain disk K, the sliding disks G,and G, the notched plates II, and II, the locking-bars J, and J, adapted to be projected into circular grooves in said outer casing, the keys L, and g, the seatsupporting arms E,and the legs F, both adapted to be locked by said plates, disks and bars, in combination with the seat M, secured to said arms E, by means of the fasteners N, attached thereto, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination in a folding seat, of the outer casing A, having the grooves t, t, and t, the top cover B, hinged thereto, and the doors D, secured to the bottom thereof, the seat M, secured to the arms E, by the fasteners N, the arms E, pivotally secured to the disk G, the notched plate I-I, adapted to I rest upon the disk G. The circular plate I, beneath the disk G, and provided with the segmental slots 19, the locking-bars J, having the pins 0, and adapted to enter the groove 5 t, the plain disk K, securing said locking-bars -,against the plate I, the key L, the spring 0, the disk G, at the lower end, having ears 8', [the locking-bars J, having pins 0, the plate H, having segmental slots to receive the pins 0, of the bars J, the legs F, secured to the. IQ ears 3', of the disk G, all as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN HEAR'ITAGEN.

Witnesses: ARMAT W. LEO, JAMES D. LEHR. 

